Chapter 424: Lady Calico, Stop Teasing Me with Those Eyes!

“Having come from Great Yan, where are you heading? How did you end up in the territory of our Cat Kingdom?”

“I am traveling the world,” Song You replied. “I journeyed to the coastal regions of Great Yan and heard of many strange nations and myths of gods and demons on the seas, so I set out by boat in search of them. But since our fresh water supply on board has run low, we sought an island to restock, and by chance, we stumbled upon your kingdom. I apologize for the intrusion.”

“Haha, so that's the story!”

General Huang Zhuang sat down cross-legged and chuckled twice before saying, “Our ancestors of the Cat Kingdom also came from the Celestial Empire across the sea. Back then, it wasn’t known as Great Yan, but we still share the same roots.

“Our king has always respected and been gracious to anyone from the Celestial Empire. Let me send a quick-footed youngster to report to the king, and you will be formally welcomed with a great ceremony.”

Finding this quite interesting, Song You didn’t refuse and instead cupped his hands. “Thank you, and sorry for the trouble...”

“It’s no trouble at all.” General Huang paused for a moment and slightly turned his head. “Ma Er.”

“Roger!” A ticked tabby cat immediately stood at attention, its expression serious.

“You’re in charge of this.”

“Understood!” The ticked tabby cat turned swiftly and darted into the underbrush.

The grass shook briefly, and within moments, the ticked tabby cat had disappeared from sight.

Song You withdrew his gaze and said to the orange tabby, “You’re quite strict in military discipline.”

“Forgive my lack of decorum,” the orange cat said, shaking its head calmly. Its demeanor was composed, neither humble nor arrogant, unaffected by praise or ridicule. It simply stood up and glanced at Song You’s small boat. “Is this small vessel what you used to travel across the sea, sir?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hua Bao, deploy guards to watch over it!”

“Yes, sir!” The black-and-white cat responded seriously.

“With that settled, there’s no need to worry. Please follow me, and I will take you to our capital,” the orange tabby said as it began walking toward the distance.

“I’ll follow your lead.”

Song You quickly followed behind it, while Lady Calico, still somewhat dazed, trailed after him.

In the background, faint whispers from the cat soldiers could be heard, discussing things like, “Is that what humans look like?”, “Where exactly is this Celestial Empire?”, and “As expected of someone from the Celestial Empire—they’re so well-mannered.” Others murmured about Lady Calico’s status as a Cat God, saying things like, “She definitely doesn’t seem like an ordinary cat.”

The voices gradually faded into the distance.

“Where are you planning to head next?” the orange tabby asked, glancing back at them as they walked.

“Oh, I was originally searching for the Fierce Beast Kingdom at sea. I couldn’t find it, so I decided to stop here temporarily to resupply,” Song You said before pausing slightly. “General Huang, have you heard of this Fierce Beast Kingdom?”

“The Fierce Beast Kingdom?”

“It was mentioned to me by the Yakshas.”

“Yakshas? Oh! You must be talking about

Tu’erhui

!”

“It does sound familiar.”

“Haha...”

Unexpectedly, the orange cat tilted its head back and chuckled, but its mature and steady voice carried a hint of melancholy. It then turned and cast a casual glance at Song You. “That’s ancient history by now. The last time a Yaksha accidentally wandered into our territory was over twenty years ago.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“About ten or so years ago, chaos engulfed the land. First, the spirit of a marquis took advantage of the turmoil to disrupt the court, then Bai Zhao usurped the throne. The thirteen lords joined forces to suppress him.

“Once the emperor was no longer recognized as the ruler, the tensions between the three clans were no longer held in check. Now, the land is divided into three regions, and the Beast Kingdom no longer exists.” The orange cat sighed, its tone a mixture of regret and lamentation.

From the way it spoke, Song You could sense the grandeur and sorrow of this fragment of history.

It was at this moment that Song You finally realized: the

Tu'erhui

that the Yaksha mentioned, and what Ye Xinrong had translated as the Fierce Beast Kingdom, was actually what the orange tabby called the Beast Kingdom—and it referred to this very island.

“In the southwest of the world, the most convenient area for fishing and shrimping is within the territory of our Cat Kingdom. However, recently, the Dog Kingdom—once our ally in resisting the Monkey Kingdom—has broken our alliance. Not only did they send naval forces into our fishing grounds, but they also launched a major invasion, taking our Baizhou region, creating much tension.”

The orange tabby continued walking and explained, “The Dog Kingdom’s soldiers are excellent swimmers, and their Grand Marshal is a master tactician. Our Prime Minister is worried they’ll deploy a surprise force to land along the coastal areas of Shazhou, attacking us from both sides while seizing the most fertile and resource-rich coastal region of our nation.

“As a result, I was assigned to lead the defense. That’s why the local garrison was so on edge when you two arrived unexpectedly. If there was any offense, I hope you and Lady Calico can forgive us.”

“Of course, of course,” Song You replied.

“Forgive us...” Lady Calico repeated absentmindedly, her expression still dazed. She simply followed in small, quick steps at Song You’s side, echoing the orange cat’s words, as though she had yet to recover from the shock of the talking cats and their kingdom.

Song You, however, remained calm and composed.

But each time he lowered his head and locked eyes with Lady Calico’s wide, innocent, and bewildered gaze, he had to suppress the urge to laugh.

“Given how tense the situation is, and how important the defense of the Shazhou coast seems to be...” Song You cast a cautious glance at the large, sturdy orange tabby walking ahead. “Is it really okay for you to leave the camp and escort us to the capital to see the king?”

“Hahaha...” The orange cat threw its head back and laughed confidently.

It continued, “Rest assured, sir. Just a couple of days ago, a massive storm swept across the sea, with thunder, lightning, and even a glimpse of the Dragon God’s true form amidst the downpour. With that kind of divine warning, those cowards from the Dog Kingdom wouldn’t dare set sail for at least half a month.

“Besides, we’ve heard reports that their coastal regions have suffered severe damage. They’re probably too busy dealing with the mess to have time to invade the borders of our Cat Kingdom.”

Song You said, “You’re truly talented.”

“Sir, you flatter me,” replied the orange tabby with a nod of modesty.

The orange cat led them into the dense jungle, weaving through several hills and mountains.

There was a path, but it was narrow—most likely worn down by cats and specifically meant for their use. It was only about as wide as a human foot. While the orange tabby and Lady Calico moved with ease, Song You found himself navigating through what felt like a primeval forest, making slow progress and occasionally struggling.

When they reached the top of the highest mountain, the orange tabby paused, extended a paw, and pointed toward the distant hills, tracing a section of the land.

“That is Baizhou, the area currently occupied by the Dog Kingdom. It’s not as prosperous as Shazhou, but it’s a land rich in bamboo grubs and bamboo rats. Now that they’ve taken it, they’re not far from our capital.”

“I see,” Song You replied, unsure of how else to respond. He then lowered his head to check on Lady Calico.

Their minds were in sync—Lady Calico lifted her head at the same time, her gaze meeting his. Her eyes were still clear and innocent but filled with confusion, with an added touch of bewilderment.

“...”

Song You pressed his lips together, holding back a smile, and continued following the orange tabby.

They crossed several more hills, covering about three li. Along the way, the number of cats increased noticeably, and cat dens became a common sight along the roadside.

They had clearly entered the heart of the Cat Kingdom.

As they ventured further, the cat dens began to change.

At first, the dens were extremely simple—just patches of flattened grass with tufts of cat fur stuck to them. The cats living there were mostly thin, small, and solid-colored, with some showing signs of illness or birth defects.

As Huang Zhuang led Song You and Lady Calico past these areas, the cats avoided making eye contact and shrank away, as if they feared being noticed. These were likely the lowest-ranking cats in the kingdom, living in the most basic conditions.

As they continued walking, the dens improved. Some were lined with dry straw, and the locations were more sheltered from the wind and rain. A few even had small shelters built over them, and behind some of the dens were small sandy patches designated for waste.

The cats living in these areas were noticeably healthier and stronger, and it was rare to see solid-colored cats among them.

These cats dared to meet General Huang’s gaze, and many of them were staring at Song You and Lady Calico with a mix of curiosity and caution.

Some cats were carrying fish, shrimp, or mice in their mouths as they returned home.

Others were playing and roughhousing.

Song You even saw a large group of cats divided into two teams, practicing combat under the command of an elderly cat. He couldn’t tell if it was a form of military training or just a game.

As they walked, Song You looked around, taking in the sights.

Lady Calico, however, had her eyes opened as wide as possible, constantly turning her head to observe every little detail of the place. She often stopped without realizing it, causing Song You to accidentally step on her tail. At other times, she fell behind, only catching up when the cat soldiers behind her reminded her with a nudge.

The further they walked, the more luxurious the cat dens became.

Some cats even had wooden platforms specifically built for basking in the sun, while others had their dens nestled in trees with storage spaces for dried fish and meat.

“Do all the cats in the Cat Kingdom know how to speak?” Song You asked.

“Only a select few intelligent ones can speak,” the orange tabby replied. “Those who can speak usually qualify for official positions. But most cats can understand spoken language.”

“Why is that?”

“Why is what?”

“In Great Yan, only a few cats can talk.”

“You must be joking, sir. Isn’t Lady Calico able to speak?”

“Lady Calico is an exception,” Song You replied, glancing back at her. She had stopped again, staring blankly at a nearby cat with a dazed expression. “Lady Calico is especially smart and gifted, which is why she can speak.”

“That, I wouldn’t know. You might have to ask our king or the prime minister,” said the orange tabby.

“I see,” Song You said, pausing for a moment. “Have you heard of the Little Kingdom?”

“The Little Kingdom? I’ve heard of it. Is that where you’re heading, sir?”

“I came to find the Fierce Beast Kingdom and was hoping to get directions,” Song You explained.

“Ah, I see!” The orange tabby nodded and sighed. “Unfortunately, I’ve only heard of it in passing. As for its exact location, I’m afraid only the king and the prime minister would know.”

“I understand,” Song You replied.

“We’ve arrived!”

The orange cat slowed its steps and pointed ahead.

Ahead of them was a sheer, wall-like cliff face, about two or three zhang tall, with cats sitting neatly on top. At the base of the cliff was a single opening, where a group of cats had already gathered.

“Inside is a mountain valley, surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides. Even the agile monkey soldiers from the Monkey Kingdom would have difficulty climbing it, let alone the heavy and clumsy dog soldiers. It’s an easily defensible position. But for the cats of the Cat Kingdom, scaling the cliffs is relatively easy,” the orange tabby explained.

It added, “Within the valley lies the capital, and at its center is the royal palace. The two cats standing in front are our prime minister and the grand general.”

By now, twilight had almost settled, and as Song You walked a bit closer, he could see more clearly.

At the front stood a slender black cat, and just behind it was a scarred ticked tabby cat with a fierce expression, though it was not as large as the orange tabby.

On either side of them sat rows of cats, neatly lined up.

Behind them, the natural mountain valley opened up.

In the center of the valley was a small house, about the height of a human. Its walls were made of stone, and its roof was thatched with bamboo and grass, making it a striking sight amidst the simpler surroundings. Around it were various cat dens, scattered across the valley.

From a distance, Song You could see cats darting around and moving about within the valley.

The orange tabby led them forward and first bowed to the black cat and the scarred tabby. Song You noticed the tabby glaring at the orange cat with some dissatisfaction, while the black cat stepped forward and greeted them warmly:

“You must be Mr. Song from the Celestial Empire, and this must be the mystical Lady Calico. I am Mo Taxue, the prime minister of the Cat Kingdom. By order of the king, I have come to greet the two of you outside the city. Ah, and there is even a guest in the sky.” He glanced at the swallow overhead. “Please, the three of you, follow me into the city. The king has prepared food and water for your arrival.”

“Thank you,” Song You replied, bowing slightly.

Song You followed the black cat for a few steps before stopping to glance back at the orange tabby. The orange cat smiled warmly and gestured for him to go ahead, saying it would follow closely behind. Only then did Song You continue on with the black cat prime minister, heading deeper into the valley.

Behind him, he could faintly hear the tabby general scolding the orange cat, questioning it for abandoning its post without permission.

The orange tabby calmly repeated its reasoning, and although the tabby general continued to scold it, there was no further trouble. The general simply told it to explain itself to the king, seemingly accepting its return to the capital from the border.

The defenses of the capital were extremely tight.

As Song You followed them through the valley and deeper into the city, he soon reached the heart of the Cat Kingdom, where he was brought before the king—a rare tortoiseshell cat.